Author's note: Thank you for reading the story! When I saw the views, I punched a wall from a joy XD. I'm also currently thinking on writing a fight scene. And you know, it will take some time for me to create a good one for Kazuma. I don't own KonoSuba. Enjoy!

Chapter 5: Recruitment

"Again what to do~~~."

Darkness and Megumin still haven't returned. It's already noon and I'm still lying in our haystack in ma tracksuit. When I woke up, Aqua's already gone.

"I wonder where she went?" Is she gonna buy a new sake again? Make debts again? Is she gonna mess with Wiz?

"I can't just leave her, she'll start a tragedy wherever she goes."

I'm not making excuses or anything. I'm just really worried about the people, surrounding her. I just want to prevent her from doing anything bad

…. Yeah, that's right….

I stand up, and change to my adventure clothes then set out to find the troublesome goddess.

"Wonder where is she?"

I walk all around town searching for her. I heard some guys talking.

"Did you see the powerful looking party in the guild?"

"Yeah! I think they're already past level 50. I wonder what they're doing here?"

Ohhhhh…. New adventurers huh. I wonder what they're doing in a city full of novice adventurers? Better go check….. I then go to the guild.

"Wow, there's a lot of people here."

I wonder what's the commotion here. They're surrounding the expert adventurers. I then go closer, so I can take a look.

"Now that's a party." I said impressed….

The party consists 5 members. I think the boy and the girl with great armor and swords are probably crusaders. There are also 2 girls with a witch hat and staff, probably arch wizards. And then there's a guy with a large staff, maybe an arch priest.

"I wonder why such a powerful party, is here in a city of novices."

Are they here to take a quest? Probably not, since the other cities have better quests. Then why on earth are they here?

It doesn't make any sense…

They're currently talking to someone… I wonder who is it….. A girl with blue hair and blue eyes, wears a short and sleeveless blue dress and has a hair tie….. She's pretty cute...

...Aqua!?

"Are you the Arch priest who defeated the Dullahan?" The Arch priest asked.

"Yeah, that's me…." Aqua blantly said.

"Then,….. can you join my party?" The priest suggested…

"EHHHHHHHHH!?" Everybody shouted in disbelief

"…Why?" Aqua asked surprised.

"We are currently in the last city. The city that is closest to the Maou's castle. Even though our city was the furthest and strongest place of adventurers. We heard the news about the death of Verdia. We were surprised that such a strong arch priest lives in a city for novices. So we travelled all the way here so we can recruit this powerful arch priest. We've already discovered the Maou's castle. The only thing left, is to kill all of his guards that hold the barrier in his castle. Pls join us, so we can bring peace to this world." The priest bowed.

"Ohhhh, is that so?" Aqua said embarrassed.

The people around them, cheered.

"Go Aqua! Defeat the Demon Lord! Bring peace to the world!"

…..I grip my hand …

"Join them Aqua! Be the strongest party ever!"

…..Tighter…

"Aqua! Aqua!Aqua!Aqua!"

Everyone's happy'

….except me

I look at Aqua…

...She's standing there

Rubbing her head.

.. ...So she's leaving huh?

"Aqua!Aqua!Aqua!"

I

….don't want to hear her response…. I just

...can't

I should be happy here…..

...She's finally gonna leave us…..

This…mean (No,you died of shock. Hahahaha! You're the first human who died in a bizarre way!The first human to die because of shock!)

….crybaby (*Cries* Arigato *Sobs* Kazuma *Hugs* Arigato! (She stinks!)

….debtful (Kazuma san! I thought my reward for this quest would be pretty hefty. So I used up all the money I had! So I have a tab of 100,000 eris!)

…..troublesome (*sings* A used-up goddess is being transported along…I'm sure they're taking me away to be sold…The outside world is scary, so I wont come out for a while.)

…..stupid (Hey,Kazuma,this isn't right! It's not working. Verdia's not affected!)

….(tears start forming)

…dresses bad (You look like some dumb kid going cicada-catching in the middle of winter.)…

.eats like a horse (*eats* There's nothing wrong with a reward of this size, is there?)

….caring (Now,return to us Kazuma! How could ypu get yourself killed already? It's too soon for you to die!)

and….she's….realiable (Episode 1: It'll be fine. As long as you have me, it'll be over in a flash….. You can count on it!)

…..(Tears flow down)…..

The truth and reality hurts huh?

"I don't deserve her….." I walk away….

I start walking back to the stable.

"I need…to see her off.. With a smile at least.. I need to be strong here.."

I bought some confetti cannons, then headed home.

I just sit in the haystack, waiting for her.

She probably doesn't know that I saw it, since I was in the middle of the crowd

…. I hear steps approaching….. *Inhales* ... I ready my confetti... *Exhales*... I put up the very best fake smile I've made in my entire life...

"Kazuma! There were really expert adventurers out there! They invited me to join in there party! I said-."

*POP*

I popped the canon, I don't want to hear her response.

"Congratulations Aqua!" I greeted her, grinning.

"…..Eh?" Aqua just stands there, surprised..

"You'll finally leave! Hahaha! You can now start an awesome life! You'll finally live in a mansion, not a puny stable! You can finally go home! You guys will definitely kill the Maou!"(Our very first promise is broken)

It hurts…

"I can finally have the stable for myself!

You don't need to wake up early anymore!

You will always stuff your face with food and sake!"

It really hurts...

"Let's keep in touch okay? Send me a letter if you defeated the Maou! Okay, I'll help you pack-"

*SLAP!*

I feel a sharp pain in my cheek….

...Did she slap me?..

I look at her

…. My eyes instantly widened…

Aqua's….crying….

"I *hic*tho-thought, you *hic* s-said *hic* yo-you needed me, hikiNEET! You liar!"

Aqua runs away…

…..Huh?..

What just happened?...

Aqua POV (First thing in the morning)

"*Yawn~*" I stretch, I think it's almost noon…Better go check the menu for breakfast.

I dress to my usual short skirt and sleeveless dress. I tie my hair up. I look at Kazuma's drooling face.

" *giggle* I'm out hikiNEET." I whispered before going out the stable.

I go to the guild's dining room. I look at the menu and then the big boob accountant talked to me.

"Ahh Aqua san, there are adventurers looking for you in the lobby."

"Ahhh ok?" I wonder who they are? I start going to the lobby and saw the powerful party.

The guy with the large staff starts walking to me…He might be the leader..

People start surrounding us..

"Are you the Arch priest who defeated the Dullahan?" He asked me.

"Yeah, that's me…." I blantly said.

"Then,….. can you join my party?" The priest suggested…

Ohhhhh. "…..Why?" I'm slightly getting embarrassed here.

"We are currently in the last city. The city that is closest to the Maou's castle. Even though our city was the furthest and strongest place of adventurers. We heard the news about the death of Verdia. We were surprised that such a strong arch priest lives in a city for novices. So we travelled all the way here so we can recruit this powerful arch priest. We've already discovered the Maou's castle. The only thing left, is to kill all of his guards that hold the barrier in his castle. Pls join us, so we can bring peace to this world." The priest bowed.

Ohhhh! They visited this city, just to invite me to their party!? Hehehee, Well I am the great Aqua sama… They probably live in an awesome mansion! I can drink any sake I can! I can also go home quickly. Leaving this parallel world quickly!

"Ohhhh, is that so?" I said embarrassed.

The people around us, start cheering for me.

"Go Aqua! Defeat the Monster Lord! Bring peace to the world!"

Hehehe, I rub my head in response.

"Join them Aqua! Be the strongest party ever!"

Hehehehe.

"Aqua! Aqua! Aqua! Aqua!"

"Then I'll-"

My eyes widen….I can't accept the recruitment….. I don't want to leave my party…. I'm that guy's property..

…I wonder why I don't want to leave…this guy..

That reliable (Um, let's head back for today. These guys are more than we can handle. Let's do this after we get more equipment together.)…

..perverted (What's this? H-Huh? That's strange. What you steal should be random…)…

..mean (Save lines like that for after you've done something a goddess would do, like guiding the hero or buying time by sealing the Devil King until the Hero can stand on his own. You're a deadbeat who's only useful for party tricks!)…

..cheater(*sheathes sword* All right, I'm in. Here I go! Steal!)

…Eris lover(Goddess change!)…

..and the guy who brought me here, for revenge (Episode 1: Pick one thing to bring to this parallel world, right? *points* Okay, I pick you.)…. I'm really grateful to him, Ever since I started living in this world….Everyday is an experience and been the happiest days of my life….. I think I'd want to stay with that guy much more than that request..

"I'm really sorry, but I can't accept.." I proudly said.

"….Can you tell me why?" The priest asked, surprised.

I just smiled and said.

"Someone …..needs me here." I start walking away.

"Eh?" Everyone said, dumbfounded.

I start walking back to the stable. Wanting to tell Kazuma what happened today…. I grin….. I want to make him jealous a little..

Hehehe.. I got invited and he doesn't…

As I enter the room, I was instantly greeted by Kazuma..

"Congratulations Aqua!" He said happily smiling…

"…..Eh?" I can only say that word, surprised.

"You'll finally leave! Hahaha! You can now start an awesome life! You'll finally live in a mansion, not a puny stable! You can finally go home! You guys will definitely kill the Maou!"

I thought that…we're gonna kill the Maou?...You…..said….you…need me right?... (Tears start forming) He's not looking in my direction….

"I can finally have the stable for myself! You don't need to wake up early anymore! You will always stuff your face with food and sake!"

I thought you didn't mind my personality

... You said you're okay with me right?

...Were you just lying from the start?...

*Tears flow down*

"Let's keep in touch okay? Send me a letter if you defeated the Maou! Okay, I'll help you pack-"

Can't contain my anger any longer

…..I slap him…

You were….lying all along….huh?

...You don't need me!

...You just want me to leave!

""I*hic* tho-thought, you *hic* s-said *hic* yo-you needed me, hikiNEET!" I run away from him. Not wanting to see he's reaction….

Kazuma POV

I just stand there….Just there…My hand on the cheek Aqua slapped…..

"Why did she slap me?"…. She's the one who said "I'm an arch priest, the most advanced job there is! Anyone would kill to have me in their party!"

Then why did she slap me? I congratulated her and even asked if I can help her pack…..Then why?

"I need to know why!" I start going after her..

Chapter 5 End!

Author's note: How is it? I really wanna know how is it! Also important news! I wont be able to update a new chapter after a week or 2,since we would be going to a place with no Wi-Fi! BUT! I will be writing new chapters to make up for it! Especially dat fight scene I was planning to! Thank you for reading and wish me luck!